Total population | |
---|---|
1,306,730 (2022 census) [1] 2.83% of the Argentina's population | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Predominantly in the Argentine Northwest and in the Patagonia near border areas | |
Languages | |
Spanish • Indigenous languages (including Guaraní, Qom, Wichí, Quechua, Mapuche) | |
Religion | |
Roman Catholicism | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Argentina has 35 indigenous people groups (often referred to as Argentine Amerindians or Native Argentines) officially recognized by the national government. [2] As of the 2022 census [INDEC], some 1,306,730 Argentines (2.83% of the country's population) self-identify as indigenous or first-generation descendants of indigenous peoples. [3]
The most populous indigenous groups were the Aonikenk, Kolla, Qom, Wichí, Diaguita, Mocoví, Huarpe peoples, Mapuche and Guarani [2] Many Argentines also identify as having at least one indigenous ancestor; a genetic study conducted by the University of Buenos Aires in 2011 showed that more than 56% of the 320 Argentines sampled were shown to have at least one indigenous ancestor in one parental lineage and around 11% had indigenous ancestors in both parental lineages. [4]
Jujuy Province, in the Argentine Northwest, is home to the highest percentage of households (15%) with at least one indigenous resident or a direct descendant of an indigenous person; Chubut and Neuquén Provinces, in Patagonia, have upwards of 12%. [5]
The earliest known evidence of indigenous peoples in Argentina is dated 11,000 BC [6] and was discovered in what is now known as the Piedra Museo archaeological site in Santa Cruz Province. The Cueva de las Manos, also in Santa Cruz, is over 10,000 years old. [7] Both are among the oldest evidence of indigenous culture in the Americas, and have, with a number of similarly ancient sites on other parts of the southern hemisphere, challenged the "Clovis First" hypothesis on the settlement of the Americas (the assumption, based on lacking evidence to the contrary, that the Clovis culture was the first in the Western Hemisphere). [8]
By the year 1500, many different indigenous communities lived in what is now modern Argentina. They were not a unified group but many independent ones, with distinct languages, societies, and relations with each other. As a result, they did not face the arrival of the Spanish colonization as a single block and had varied reactions toward the Europeans. The Spanish people looked down on the indigenous population, considering them inferior to themselves. [9] For this reason, they kept very little historical information about them. [10]
In the 19th century major population movements altered the original Patagonian demography. Between 1820 and 1850 the original Aonikenk people were conquered and expelled from their territories by invading Mapuche (that called them Tehuelches) armies. By 1870 most of northern Patagonia and the south east Pampas were Araucanized. [11] During the Generation of 1880, European immigration was strongly encouraged as a way of occupying an empty territory, configuring the national population and, through their colonizing effort, gradually incorporating the nation into the world market. These changes were perhaps best summarized by the anthropological metaphor which states that “Argentines descend from ships.” [12] The strength of the immigration and its contribution to the Argentine ethnography is evident by observing that Argentina became the country in the world that received the second highest number of immigrants, with 6.6 million, second only to the United States with 27 million, and ahead of countries such as Canada, Brazil, Australia, etc. [13] [14]
The expansion of European immigrant communities and the railways westward into the Pampas and south into Patagonia was met with Malón raids by displaced tribes. This led to the Conquest of the Desert in the 1870s, which resulted in over 1,300 indigenous dead. [15] [16] Indigenous cultures in Argentina were consequently affected by a process of invisibilization, promoted by the government during the second half of the 19th century and the early 20th. [17]
The extensive explorations, research and writing by Juan Bautista Ambrosetti and other ethnographers during the 20th century, which followed earlier pioneer studies by anthropologists such as Robert Lehmann-Nitsche, [18] encouraged wider interest in indigenous people in Argentina, and their contributions to the nation's culture were further underscored during the administration of President Juan Perón in the 1940s and 1950s as part of the rustic criollo culture and values exalted by Perón during that era. [19] Discriminatory policies toward these people and other minorities officially ended, moreover, with the August 3, 1988, enactment of the Antidiscrimination Law (Law 23.592) by President Raúl Alfonsín, [20] and were countered further with the establishment of a government bureau, the National Institute Against Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Racism (INADI), in 1995. [21] Corrientes Province, in 2004, became the first in the nation to award an indigenous language (Guaraní) with co-official status, [22] and all 35 native peoples were recognized by both the 2004 Indigenous Peoples Census and by their inclusion as self-descriptive categories in the 2010 census; indigenous communities and Afro-Argentines thus became the only groups accorded any recognition as ethnic categories by the 2010 census. [23]
Native Argentines 2001-2022 | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Population | % of Argentina | |||||
2001 | 600,329 | 1.66% | |||||
2010 | 955,032 | 2.38% | |||||
2022 | 1,306,730 | 2.83% | |||||
Source: Argentina census INDEC. [24] [1] |
As of the 2010 census [INDEC], some 955,032 Argentines (2.38% of the country's population) self-identify as indigenous or first-generation descendants of indigenous peoples. [3]
The first government-led effort to produce accurate statistical data on the country's indigenous peoples was the 2001 national census, which included a question on self-identification with indigenous nations. [25] A more in-depth statistical survey came in 2004, with the Complimentary Survey on Indigenous Populations carried out by the National Institute for Indigenous Affairs (INAI). The 2004 survey which accounted for 600,329 people who see themselves as descending from or belonging to indigenous people. [26] Indigenous organisations have questioned the factual accuracy of the 2004 survey: First, the methodology used in the survey was considered inadequate, as a large number of indigenous people live in urban areas where the survey was not fully conducted. Second, many indigenous people in the country hide their identity for fear of discrimination. Moreover, when the survey was designed in 2001, it was based on the existence of 18 known peoples in the country, opposed to the more than 31 groups recognized by the INAI today. This increase reflects a growing awareness amongst indigenous people in terms of their ethnic belonging. [26]
As many Argentines either believe that the majority of the indigenous have died out or are on the verge of doing so, or 'their descendants' assimilated into Western civilisation many years ago, they wrongly hold the idea that there are no indigenous people in their country. The use of pejorative terms likening the indigenous to lazy, idle, dirty, ignorant and savage are part of the everyday language in Argentina. Due to these incorrect stereotypes many indigenous have over the years been forced to hide their identity in order to avoid being subjected to racial discrimination. [26]
As of 2011 many natives were still being denied land and human rights. Many of the Qom native community had been struggling to protect the land they claim as ancestral territory and even the lives of its members. Qom community leader Félix Díaz claimed that his people were being denied medical assistance, did not have access to drinking water, and were subject to arbitrary rises on food prices by non-indigenous businesses. He also claimed the local justice system refused to hear the local community's complaints. [27]
The INAI, which reports to the Argentine Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, is tasked with overseeing the government's indigenous policy and maintaining track of Argentina's indigenous communities and their rights to their ancestral lands. [28] As of 2018, the INAI kept register of 1,653 communities, of which 1,456 held legal ownership over various territories. [29]
In addition to the indigenous population in Argentina, most Argentines are descendants of indigenous peoples or have some indigenous ancestry. [4] Many genetic studies have shown that Argentina's genetic footprint is primarily, but not overwhelmingly, European. In a genetic study involving 441 Argentines from across the North East, North West, Southern, and Central provinces (especially the urban conglomeration of Buenos Aires) of the country, it was observed that 65% of the Argentine population was of European descent, followed by 31% of indigenous descent, and 4% of African descent. [31]
The same study also found there were great differences in the ancestry amongst Argentines as one traveled across the country. For example, the population in the North West provinces of Argentina (including the province of Salta) were on average of 66% indigenous, 33% European, and 1% of African ancestry. [31] The European immigration to this North West part of the country was limited and the original indigenous population largely thrived after their initial decline owing to the introduction of European diseases and colonization. Similarly, the study also showed that the population in the North Eastern provinces of Argentina (for example, Misiones, Chaco, Corrientes, and Formosa) were on average 43% of indigenous, 54% European, and 3% of African ancestry. [31] The population of the Southern provinces of Argentina, such as Río Negro and Neuquén, were on average 40% of indigenous, 54% European, and 6% of African ancestry. [31] Finally, only in areas of massive historical European immigration in Argentina, namely the Central provinces (Buenos Aires and the surrounding urban areas), Argentines were of overwhelmingly European ancestry, with the average person having 17% indigenous, 76% European, and 7% of African ancestry. [31]
In another study, that was titled the Regional pattern of genetic admixture in South America, the researchers included results from the genetic study of several hundreds of Argentines from all across the country. The study indicated that Argentines were as a whole made up of 38% indogenous, 58.9% of European, and 3.1% of African ancestry. Again, there were huge difference in the genetic ancestry from across the various regions of the country. [32] For example, Argentines who hailed from Patagonia were 45% indigenous and 55% of European ancestry. [32] The population in the North West part of the country were made up of 69% of indigenous, 23% of European, and 8% of African ancestry. [32] The population in the Gran Chaco part of the country were 38% of indigenous, 53% of European, and 9% of African ancestry. [32] The population in the Mesopotamian part of the country were 31% of indigenous, 63% of European, and 6.4% of African ancestry. [32] Finally, the population in the Pampa region of the country were 22% of indigenous, 68% of European, and 10% of African ancestry. [32]
Finally, in another study published in 2005 involving the North Western provinces of the country, the genetic structure of 1293 individuals from Jujuy, Salta, Tucumán, Santiago del Estero, Catamarca and La Rioja was analysed. [33] This study showed that the Spanish contribution (50%) predominated in Argentina's North West, followed by the Amerindian (40%) and African (10%) contributions. [33] According to this study, Argentines from Jujuy were 53% indigenous, 47% European, and 0.1% African ancestry. [33] Argentines from Salta were 41% of indigenous, 56% of European, and 3.1% of African ancestry. [33] Those from Catamarca were 37% of indigenous, 53% of European, and 10% of African ancestry. [33] Those from La Rioja were on average 31% indigenous, 50% European, and 19% African ancestry. [33] The inhabitants of Santiago del Estero were on average 30% indigenous, 46% European, and 24% African ancestry. [33] The inhabitants of Tucumán were on average 24% indigenous, 67% European, and 9% African ancestry. [33]
According to the 2010 census there are the following indigenous groups: [3]
Indigenous group | Total population | Males | Females |
---|---|---|---|
Mapuche | 205,009 | 103,253 | 101,756 |
Toba | 126,967 | 63,772 | 63,195 |
Guaraní | 105,907 | 53,788 | 52,119 |
Diaguita | 67,410 | 34,295 | 33,115 |
Kolla | 65,066 | 32,553 | 32,513 |
Quechua | 55,493 | 27,849 | 27,644 |
Wichí | 50,419 | 25,513 | 24,906 |
Comechingón | 34,546 | 17,077 | 17,469 |
Huarpe | 34,279 | 17,098 | 17,181 |
Tehuelche | 27,813 | 13,948 | 13,865 |
Mocoví | 22,439 | 11,498 | 10,941 |
Pampa | 22,020 | 10,596 | 11,424 |
Aymara | 20,822 | 10,540 | 10,282 |
Avá Guaraní | 17,899 | 9,438 | 8,461 |
Rankulche | 14,860 | 7,411 | 7,449 |
Charrúa | 14,649 | 7,192 | 7,457 |
Atacama | 13,936 | 7,095 | 6,841 |
Mbya-Guaraní | 7,379 | 3,872 | 3,507 |
Omaguaca | 6,873 | 3,551 | 3,322 |
Pilagá | 5,137 | 2,623 | 2,514 |
Tonocote | 4,853 | 2,437 | 2,416 |
Lulé | 3,721 | 1,918 | 1,803 |
Tupí Guaraní | 3,715 | 1,872 | 1,843 |
Querandí | 3,658 | 1,776 | 1,882 |
Chané | 3,034 | 1,559 | 1,475 |
Sanavirón | 2,871 | 1,399 | 1,472 |
Ona | 2,761 | 1,383 | 1,378 |
Chorote | 2,270 | 1,177 | 1,093 |
Maimará | 1,899 | 876 | 1,023 |
Chulupi | 1,100 | 537 | 563 |
Vilela | 519 | 279 | 240 |
Tapiete | 407 | 217 | 189 |
Others | 5,301 | 2,681 | 2,620 |
Total | 955,032 | 481,074 | 473,958 |
Historical states in present-day Argentina |
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more |
This region includes the provinces of Chaco, Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Formosa, Misiones, Santa Fe, and parts of Santiago del Estero Province.
This region includes the provinces of Catamarca, Jujuy, La Rioja, Salta, San Juan, parts of Santiago del Estero Province, and Tucumán.
This region includes the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires and the provinces of Buenos Aires, Córdoba, La Pampa, Mendoza, and San Luis.
This region includes the provinces of Chubut, Neuquén, Río Negro, Santa Cruz, and Tierra del Fuego.
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: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)This is a demography of Argentina including population density, ethnicity, economic status and other aspects of the population.
Río Negro is a province of Argentina, located in northern Patagonia. Neighboring provinces are from the south clockwise Chubut, Neuquén, Mendoza, La Pampa and Buenos Aires. To the east lies the Atlantic Ocean.
The Mapuche are a group of indigenous inhabitants of south-central Chile and southwestern Argentina, including parts of Patagonia. The collective term refers to a wide-ranging ethnicity composed of various groups who share a common social, religious, and economic structure, as well as a common linguistic heritage as Mapudungun speakers. Their homelands once extended from Choapa Valley to the Chiloé Archipelago and later spread eastward to Puelmapu, a land comprising part of the Argentine pampa and Patagonia. Today the collective group makes up over 80% of the indigenous peoples in Chile and about 9% of the total Chilean population. The Mapuche are concentrated in the Araucanía region. Many have migrated from rural areas to the cities of Santiago and Buenos Aires for economic opportunities, more than 92% of the Mapuches are from Chile.
Salta is a province of Argentina, located in the northwest of the country. Neighboring provinces are from the east clockwise Formosa, Chaco, Santiago del Estero, Tucumán and Catamarca. It also surrounds Jujuy. To the north it borders Bolivia and Paraguay and to the west lies Chile.
The Toba people, also known as the Qom people, are one of the largest indigenous groups in Argentina who historically inhabited the region known today as the Pampas of the Central Chaco. During the 16th century, the Qom inhabited a large part of what is today northern Argentina, in the current provinces of Salta, Chaco, Santiago del Estero, Formosa and the province of Gran Chaco in the southeast of the Department of Tarija in Bolivia. Currently, many Toba, due to persecution in their rural ancestral regions, live in the suburbs of San Ramón de la Nueva Orán, Salta, Tartagal, Resistencia, Charata, Formosa, Rosario and Santa Fe and in Greater Buenos Aires. Nearly 130,000 people currently identify themselves as Toba or Qom. With more than 120,000 Qom living in Argentina, the Qom community is one of the largest indigenous communities in the country.
The Diaguita people are a group of South American indigenous people native to the Chilean Norte Chico and the Argentine Northwest. Western or Chilean Diaguitas lived mainly in the Transverse Valleys that incise semi-arid mountains. Eastern or Argentine Diaguitas lived in the provinces of La Rioja and Catamarca and part of the provinces of Salta, San Juan and Tucumán. The term Diaguita was first applied to peoples and archaeological cultures by Ricardo E. Latcham in the early 20th century.
The Indigenous peoples of South America or South American Indigenous peoples, are the pre-Columbian peoples of South America and their descendants. These peoples contrast with South Americans of European ancestry and those of African descent.
Argentina has a racially and ethnically diverse population. The territory of what today is Argentina was first inhabited by numerous indigenous peoples. The first white settlers came during the period of Spanish colonization, beginning in the 16th century. The Spaniards imported African slaves, who would go on to become the first Afro-Argentines. Following independence from Spain in the 19th century and well into the 20th century, numerous migration waves took place, with Argentina being the second most popular destination for migrants in the early 20th century, after the United States. Most of these migrants came from Europe.
The Tehuelche people, also called the Aónikenk, are an Indigenous people from eastern Patagonia in South America. In the 18th and 19th centuries the Tehuelche were influenced by Mapuche people, and many adopted a horseriding lifestyle. Once a nomadic people, the lands of the Tehuelche were colonized in the 19th century by Argentina and Chile, gradually disrupting their traditional economies. The establishment of large sheep farming estates in Patagonia was particularly detrimental to the Tehuelche. Contact with outsiders also brought in infectious diseases ushering deadly epidemics among Tehuelche tribes. Most existing members of the group currently reside in cities and towns of Argentine Patagonia.
Spanish is the language that is predominantly understood and spoken as a first or second language by nearly all of the population of Argentina. According to the latest estimations, the population is currently greater than 45 million.
Chileans are an ethnic group and nation native to the country of Chile and its neighboring insular territories. Most Chileans share a common culture, history, ancestry and language. The overwhelming majority of Chileans are the product of varying degrees of admixture between European ethnic groups with peoples indigenous to Chile's modern territory. Chile is a multilingual and multicultural society, but an overwhelming majority of Chileans have Spanish as their first language and either are Christians or have a Christian cultural background.
As of 2017, South America has an estimated population of 418.76 million people.
Afro-Argentines are Argentines of primarily Sub-Saharan African descent. The Afro-Argentine population is the result of people being brought over during the transatlantic slave trade during the centuries of Spanish domination in the region and immigration from Africa.
Argentines are the people identified with the country of Argentina. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Argentines, several of these connections exist and are collectively the source of their being Argentine. In the past the National Gentilic for Citizens of Argentina was mistakenly translated as Argentinians, a term that is no longer considered accurate.
Bolivians are people identified with the country of Bolivia. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Bolivians, several of these connections exist and are collectively the source of their being Bolivian.
Indigenous peoples in Uruguay or Native Uruguayans, are the peoples who have historically lived in the modern state of Uruguay. Because of colonial practices, disease and active exclusion, only a very small share of the population is aware of the country's indigenous history or has known indigenous ancestry.
Félix Díaz is an Argentine activist on behalf of the civil rights of the Qom people in Argentina. He is the qarashé of the Potae Napocna Navogoh, also known as Colonia La Primavera in the province of Formosa. The Spanish newspaper El País named him among the 100 most outstanding Iberoamerican people of 2011. Since July 2016 he has been president of the Consultative and Participative Council of Indigenous People.
The origin of the Mapuche has been a matter of research for over a century. The genetics of the Mapuche do not show overly clear affinities with any other known indigenous group in the Americas, and the same goes for linguistics, where the Mapuche language is considered a language isolate. Archaeological evidence shows Mapuche culture has existed in Chile at least since 600 to 500 BC. Mapuches are late arrivals in their southernmost and easternmost (Pampas) areas of settlement, yet Mapuche history in the north towards Atacama Desert may be older than historic settlement suggest. The Mapuche has received significant influence from Pre-Incan (Tiwanaku?), Incan and Spanish peoples, but deep origins of the Mapuche predates these contacts. Contact and conflict with the Spanish Empire are thought by scholars such as Tom Dillehay and José Bengoa to have had a profound impact on the shaping of the Mapuche ethnicity.
The National Institute for Indigenous Affairs is a decentralised agency of the Government of Argentina responding to the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights tasked with overseeing the government's policy on affairs pertaining to Argentina's various indigenous communities.